10-25-2006, 12:28 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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The Stars or Bust!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,210
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Z trying to learn some new tricks
Quote:
CLEVELAND - Zydrunas Ilgauskas is trying to prove you can teach an old Lithuanian new tricks.
Ilgauskas was a popular scapegoat when the Cavs failed to upset the Detroit Pistons in May's playoffs. He scored just eight points in the Game 7 loss when LeBron James badly needed offensive help. It closed a forgettable playoff performance: In the first round, he was often outplayed by the Washington Wizards' Brendan Haywood, and then it got really tough when he had to face Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace.
After Ilgauskas had waited eight years between playoff appearances, it wasn't the way he wanted to end the season.
So he's trying to keep it from happening again by taking the somewhat rare and challenging step of adding a facet to his game at the age of 31. He has slowly and surely been working on an old yet forgotten move: the hook shot.
``In the playoffs, it was hard; they took away my first and second options,'' Ilgauskas said after the Cavs' three-hour practice Tuesday in preparation for tonight's final preseason game, against the Dallas Mavericks in Pittsburgh. ``I lost confidence in myself. When you struggle in the playoffs, it is hard because there are no practices.''
Both the Wizards and Pistons noticed that Ilgauskas was really comfortable only when he got the ball on the left block. He also usually attempted a fade away or drove for a right-handed layup try. So the defense sat on his left shoulder and then would bring a double team when he started a move, knowing he probably wouldn't pass.
So after meeting with the coaching staff after the season, Ilgauskas started working on both left and right-handed hook shots to take advantage of his 7-foot-3 height. He's slowly been taking the wraps off them in the preseason, and the results have been relatively positive.
``The older you get, you get set in your ways, and you get stubborn,'' Ilgauskas said. ``You have to be open-minded. You have to change with the times.''
It is hardly a work of hardwood art. With Ilgauskas' long arms, the maneuver looks a little more awkward than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's famous sky hook. But he's shown some consistency, especially with the right hand, and some range as well.
``Uh, it's a layup, runner, floater, half-hook, sorta jumper.... . . '' Cavs coach Mike Brown said, ``that he seems to start from his knees.''
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http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/...s/15844925.htm
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Z trying to learn some new tricks
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